CULTURAL LEARNING ALLIANCE PUBLISHES FINDINGS IN NEW REPORT OUT TODAY

CULTURAL LEARNING ALLIANCE PUBLISHES FINDINGS IN NEW REPORT OUT TODAY:

LEARNING THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE IMPROVES YOUNG PEOPLE’S LIFE CHANCES

Whilst a recent study reveals that 13% of schools have already cut arts, drama and music from the curriculum*, the Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) demonstres the impact of cultural learning on the lives of children and young people.

Amongst the findings, based on a review of all available large-scale English language data including from the US, funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, are:

Learning through arts and culture improves attainment in all subjects.

Students from low-income families who take part in arts activitiesat school are three times more likely to get a degree.

The employability of students who study arts subjects is higher and they are more likely to stay in employment.

Students who engage in the arts at school are twice as likely to volunteer and are 20% more likely to vote as young adults.

Professor Mick Waters, leading curriculum expert and member of the Cultural Learning Alliance, said today: “This is a critical time for cultural learning. Currently every child has access to arts and cultural opportunities through the National Curriculum and through their school. This is under threat due to the introduction of the Ebacc* in secondary schools and could be compounded by the removal of all arts subjects from the whole curriculum – something currently being discussed by the Coalition Government. If the EBacc is followed by new plans to axe the arts from the National Curriculum, many of our young people will not have a guaranteed opportunity to participate in the arts at all.”

The full research findings are published on the CLA’s website, together with ImagineNation: The Case for Cultural Learning, a new report which draws on the research findings and which sets out how and why the arts and heritage have the power to transform young people’s lives. ImagineNation is available to download free from the CLA website.

About the Cultural Learning Alliance:The Cultural Learning Alliance, is a grassroots community of 6,000 teachers, artists, parents, cultural organisations and educational organisations, who are concerned to protect children’s rights to learning through arts and culture at a time of social and economic stress. Its website publishes up to date research, highlights issues in the field of cultural learning, and provides a powerful forum for debate. The community of the CLA is growing rapidly.

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) was introduced in January this year. It rewards secondary schools for the number of young people who achieve good GCSE grades in Maths, English, Science, a language and either History or Geography. This has led to many schools moving the bulk of their resources to these subjects and cutting the option to study the arts. Many leading organisations and groups have called for the EBacc to be restructured or abolished.